by Zabet NeuCollins

Machias Savings Bank (MSB) announced today that it will donate $250,000 to the Maine Lobstermen’s Association’s (MLA) Save Maine Lobstermen campaign. The donation comes after a federal appeals court granted a motion to expedite the MLA’s appeal of a decision in its lawsuit against National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The MLA seeks to reverse what it calls a scientifically flawed federal whale plan that will cripple Maine’s lobster industry and negatively impact the economy of Maine and our coastal communities.

by Nancy Beal 

Florence Smith was born on September 28, 1922. Ninety-nine years and 364 days later, she stayed up until midnight with family members, and when the clock struck midnight, the celebration of her centennial began. It would culminate four days later in a huge “birthday bash,” as she styled it, at which she was honored for both her personal and professional life.

by David Dahl, Maine Monitor

Town officials in Columbia Falls are discussing a moratorium on big projects like the proposed $1 billion Flagpole of Freedom Park and have also passed a resolution asking the developer to set aside $150,000 with the town for costs associated with its planning.

by Hailey Wood

On Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Knights of Narraguagus Jr/Sr High will don their historical costumes and host the first Renaissance Faire of the school’s history. 

Other than the Margaretta Days in Machias and Pirate Festival held in Eastport, Washington County has never seen an event quite like the traditional Renaissance Faire. 

by Nancy Beal 

Last week, the Jonesport planning board wrapped up its examination of the application from Kingfish Maine, a subsidiary of a Dutch firm that wants to build a $110 million land-based fish farm on 94 acres adjacent to Chandler Bay. By unanimous vote, the panel also declared the Oct. 13 session — the seventh since early August--to be the last at which oral public comment would be taken.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Jessica Lewis has served as the Machias, Northfield, and UT Animal Control Officer for three years now, and that’s long enough to have collected a few good stories. For instance, there was that time she was called to check on someone who was housing two cows in a minivan.

“They had taken out the seats in the back and had hay in there,” recalls Lewis. When the cows weren’t in their minivan, they were often on neighboring lawns.

“I had at least three neighbors wrangling the cows and calling me,” said Lewis.

Members of the Hannah Weston Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, gathered recently to remember several members who, through their untiring efforts

have supported not only the local Hannah Weston Chapter but the Maine State DAR and the National Society DAR through their outstanding service and dedication.

by Jonathan Reisman

With Indigenous Peoples Day replacing Columbus Day, Goodbye, Columbus seemed a natural, but I realized that most folks under 50 would not get the reference. Goodbye, Columbus is a 1959 novella by Phillip Roth that was made into a 1969 movie starring Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw. It was Macgraw’s debut just before Love Story in 1970 rocketed her to fame. Goodbye Columbus is also the desired woke outcome of Indigenous Peoples Day.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Washington Academy Junior Carson Prout, 16, is now the third highest-ranking Maine Class C golfer following an excellent season for both Prout and the WA golf team, according to WA Golf Coach A.J. Carter. 

“It was a strong year by all this season, with every player contributing,” said Carter. “In high school golf, the top four scores are counted for each team, and all of our golfers made it into the top four at some point during the year. Quite impressive.”